Driving, braking and reeling means for an elongated strip



. Original Filed May 12, 1947 Jan. 22, 1957' H. A. HOWELL arm. 2,778,530

DRIVING, BRAKING AND REELING MEANS FOR AN ELONGATED STRIP s She ets-Sheet 1 I Huey x4. Hon/E44. [Ln/5A? 19. OFFUTT Jan. 22, 1957 2,778,580

DRIVING, BRAKING AND REEL-INC MEANS FOR AN-ELQNGATED STRIP Original Filed May 12, 1947 H. A. HOWELL ETAL 8 Sheet s-Sheet 2 HHJIwH HER Z flue/v /7. flows. [M152 8. Orrarr w W Jan. 22, 1957 H. A. HOWELL ETAL DRIVING, BRAKING AND REELING MEANS FOR AN ELONGATED STRIP Original Filed May 12, 1947 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 IZZECZ Dr's 6 05 4 fi an fu Jan. 22, 1957 H. A. HOWELL ETAL 2,778,50

DRIVING, BRAKING AND REELING MEANS FOR AN ELONGATED STRIP 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed May 12, 1947 ZZZ 2E1: ZUPS Howl 19: fiQWELL 452N259 9. OFFZ/TT Jan. 22, 1957 H. A. HOWELL ETAL 2,778,580

DRIVING, BRAKING AND REELING MEANS FOR AN ELONGATED STRIP Jan 22, 1957 Ham/E L, EAL ZQWfiQ DRIVING, BRAKING AND REELING MEANS FOR AN ELONGATED STRIP Original Filed ma 12, 1.947 8 Sheets-Sheet v Jan 22, 19-57 H. A. HOWELL ETAL DRIVING, BRAKING AND REELING MEANS FOR AN ELONGATED STRIP 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Qriginal Filed May 12, 19 47 w F 0 MM #5 United States Patent Q DRIVING, BRAKING. AND REELINGNIEANS: FOR. AN ELONGATED STRIP Hugh A.. Howell, Valparaiso, hull, and Elmer B; Ofintt;

This invention relatesto a driving, braking and reeling means for an elongated strip, and more, particularly, to mechanism which is particularly useful in magnetic recording, and reproducing apparatus.

This application is a division of our co-pending application for Magnetic Recorder, U. S. Serial No. 747,540; filed May 12, 1947, now Patent. No. 2,639,333, and assigned to the same. assignee as the present invention.

In most forms of magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, itis necessary to transfer an elongated strip or. other medium from one reel to another. During its pas.- sagefrom. one. reel to another, the magnetizable elongated strip passes over an electromagnetic transducer head where a magnetic record is made on the elongated strip or where a magnetic. record is played from the elongated strip.

The fidelity with which the intelligence isreproduced in a magnetic recorder is dependent on the degree to which the instantaneous. linear velocity of the. recording; medium as. it passes across the reproducing head during reproducing compareswith the velocity at whichiit passed across the recordinghead during recording. Variations between these, two velocities produce annoying anddi'sturbing effects onv the listener that reduce theenjoyment derived. from the intelligence. In fact, this problem. has become sosignificant in. theart that'the term wow has been applied.

to the annoying effects associatedwith periodic variations in the velocity of'the medium.

It is accordingly an object of the present invention. to provide an improved mechanism to impart controlled linear velocity to a medium so as to enable. recording and reproducing operations without wow or other annoying effects.

It is a further object ofthis invention to'provide an improved. mechanism? for driving. and transferringa medium at constant linear velocity regardless ofthe amount of medium on the supply or take-up spool.

It is yet another object of the present inventionto provide an improved mechanism for imparting. uniform linear velocity to a medium for recording or reproducing.

purposes and which has features of construction, combination. and arrangement whereby it may be constructed of. simple stamped sheet metal parts, such as plates, to the end that itisinexpensive in construction, and'simple and reliable in operation and has maximum utility for home use.

Further it is an object of the present invention to provide animproved mechanism capable of selectively transferring a lengthy medium in either of two directions but which may be driven from a unidirectionalmotor.

Another and still further object of'the present invention is to provide a novel driving, braking andreeling means for an elongated strip, or other'medium which is economical to manufacture andrugged andreliable in use.

The novel features which we believe to be characteristic of our invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. Our invention, itself, however,

"ice

both as to its organization and method of operation, to-

gether'wit-h further objects and advantages thereof, may

best be understood'iby reference to the following descriptiontaken inconnection with the accompanying drawings.

0n the drawings:

Figure l is an isometric view of the front panel and top portion of a magnetic recorder embodying the features of our invention.

Figure 2' isa top plan view of the recorder of'Figure' 1, but Wit-h the housing covering the. head and associated elements removed.

Figure 2A isa diagrammatic view of the head showing the shape thereof andthe positioning of the magneti'zable tape relative thereto.

Figure 2B'is. afragmentary cross sectional view through section II B'Il B Figure 2. and showing theswitch and supporting elementsassociated with the listen-record opcrating arm.

Figure 3 is aview of the winding mechanism of the recorder of Figures 1 and'2 as seen when looking upward from a position directlybelow the support panel withtheoperating knob positioned in the stop. position.

Figures 4' and 5 are cross section views taken along axes 1V'-IV and VV, Figure 2 respectively, but not showing the head, erase magnet and elements associated therewith Figure Sis-a view like Figure 3 except that the drive motor and the supporting plate therefor are removed to show more clearly the operative elements hidden from" operations where the medium is caused to travel in direc tionopposi te to the'direction of travel during'the record ing or play-back operation;

Figure 9 is a view like Figures'T and 8, but showing theel'ementsof' thedrive mechanism positioned for the forwardi'operation where the medium travels in directionfor recording or play-back.

Figures 10 and" 11' are fragmentary top views like Figure 2' but showing the position ofthe capstan and its: associated elements when the medium travels in the re-- Wind and the forward directions respectively;

As shown on: the. drawings:

R'eferringnow to the general view of the embodiment otl'our invention as shown in'Figure l, a housing, shown generally at" 20, is provided within which: the electrical and mechanical operative elements: of the unit are disposed? andwhi'ch has front panel 22- tosupport the speaker 24', electrical operating knobs 248, 272, and 246, jacksi29ll and 292; etc. A top panel 28 is provided to support the mechanical system, including the elements shown in Figures 1 and 2 supported above the panel and the elements shown in Figures 3 to 9? supported" belowthe panel- Above panel 28' are mounted medium supporting de vices 30 and' 32. A lengthy flexible recording medium- 34 is coiled on these devices, so that upon rotation of devices 30- and 32v in like direction, medium 34'is'passed between them. In traveling between devices 30 and 32, medium 34 passes within, enclosure 36 where it travels across: head 42, Figure 2, which converts the variations The medium- 34'" may, for example; be a paper tape 3 treated so as to be magnetizable. In one method of this treatment, a magnetizable coating is placed on the tape by drawing it through a suspension of magnetic particles so that particles are deposited on the tape and act as a magnetizable medium in connection therewith.

The operative elements which act upon medium 3 3 as it passes between devices 38 and 32 are shown most clearly in Figure 2 which is a top view of the mechanism of Figure 1 but with the enclosure 36 removed. From this view it will be apparent that the medium passes across guide pulley 38 and capstan 48 and in traveling between these elements passes across head 42 with linear velocity corresponding to the rotational velocity of capstan 40.

The construction of head 42 is shown in somewhat diagrammatic fashion in Figure 2A. As will be evident from this view, the head includes a core member 44 which, together with medium 34, defines a path for'magnetic flux as is indicated by the dashed line as. In addition, head 42 includes coil 58 having turns to link the flux of core as and medium 34. During recording operations, a time varying current is caused to flow in coil 48 by means to be described in further detail hereafter, so as to set up magnetic flux within head 42 and the incremental length of medium 34 positioned immediately over the air gap thereof. As capstan 40, together with devices 38 and 32 cause medium 34 to travel across head 42 at a uniform linear velocity, this causes variations in the magnetization of medium 34 to be imparted along the length thereof so as to magnetize medium 34 to a varying degree in accord with the time variations in the intelligence to be recorded. During the play-back operation, an amplifier is connected to coil 48 in a manner described in further detail hereafter, and medium 34 passed across head 42 by reason of the action of devices and 32, together with capstan 48. As successive incremental lengths of medium 34 are positioned over head 42, different values of magnetic flux link coil 48. This causes a time varying electromotive force to be induced in coil 48 in accord with the variations in the magnetization of medium 34 along the length thereof, thereby reproducing a time varying signal corresponding to the signal recorded on the medium.

The operative structure for transferring medium 34 between devices 30 and 32 is shown in the views of Figures 2 to 11. Figure 3 is a view of the mechanism as seen looking upward from below panel 28 and shows all the elements mounted thereon in connection with the mechanism. Power for rotating devices 38 and 32 together with capstan is derived from motor 50. This motor is attached to support plate 52 by screws 54. Plate 52 is mounted parallel to and in spaced relationship with panel 28 by screws 56 which act in conjunction with sleeves 58, Figure 5. Reinforcing plate 60 is attached to support plate 52 by rivets 62.

The shaft 68 of motor 50 extends upwardly to an enlarged section 70 which is in frictional engagement with drive wheel 72. This is best seen in Figure 5 which is a cross section view through the indicated cross section of Figure 3. Drive wheel 72 is provided with a peripheral tire 74 (seen best in Figure 6) so as to provide good frictional engagement with enlarged section 78 of drive wheel 72. Drive wheel 72 further rides against flywheel 76 so as to impart rotational velocity thereto.

As is best seen in Figure 5, flywheel 76 and capstan 40 are mounted upon a common shaft '78 so that as ro tational motion is imparted to flywheel 76, shaft 78 and capstan 40 are rotated accordingly. Thus linear motion is imparted to medium 34 in accord with the angular velocity of flywheel 76.

In addition to acting as part of the drive to rotate capstan 40 in accord with the rotational motion of shaft 68 of motor 58, flywheel 76 acts as an inertia device to maintain constant the angular velocity of capstan At). This flywheel is constructed with relatively great diameter and has a relatively heavy outer periphery so as to provide maximum moment of inertia to oppose any influences tending to vary the rotational velocity thereof. These influences thus cause slippage in the drive mechanism as, for example, drive wheel 72, rather than variations in the linear velocity of medium 34. As described in further detail hereafter, medium 34 is urged against capstan 40 so as to prevent slippage between capstan 40 and medium 34 and cause flywheel 76 to maintain constant the linear velocity of medium 34. Inasmuch as the fidelity of reproduction of recorded signals depends upon the degree to which the actual linear velocity of medium 34 during the reproducing operation corresponds with the actual linear velocity of medium 34 during the recording operation, the constant velocities achieved in this fashion provide good fidelity of operation and a minimum tendency towards distortion, such as wow.

Medium supporting device 38 is mounted on shaft 80, Figure 5, so as to rotate therewith. This shaft also supports disk 82 which is of diameter to engage enlarged portion 84 of shaft 68. This engagement will be further evident from examination of Figure 6. Shaft 80, together with disk 82 and device 30, is supported from panel 28 by eccentric 86, Figure 7. This eccentric is rotatably mounted within panel 28 and in turn rotatively supports shaft 80. The point at which shaft 89 is supported from eccentric 86 is displaced from the center thereof so that as eccentric 86 is rotated the position of shaft is shifted.

In order to rotate eccentric 86 and thereby shift shaft 80, plate 88 is attached to eccentric 86 by boss 90, Figure 5. Plate 88 is further supported by pin 92, Figure 7, which permits rotation of plate 88 about the center of rotation of eccentric 86. Spring 94, acting against fixed pin 96 in panel 28 and pin 98 in plate 88, biases plate 88 in the counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 7, thereby tending to swing disk 82 to a spaced position relative to enlarged portion 84 of shaft 68 and preventing shaft 68 from imparting rotation to device 3!). Disk 82 is shifted to this position in the view of Figure 9, which corresponds to Figure 7 but in which the elements are adjusted to cause travel of medium 34 in the forward direction. Moreover, spring 94 tends to shift disk 82 in direction to cause the peripheral surface of that disk to engage friction brake 108 and supplement the cam action of plate 88 against that brake.

Plate 88 is further shaped to provide a camming action selectively to engage brake 1'38 against the disk 82. In Figure 7, for example, where the elements are disposed in the stop position, plate 88 is positioned so that the cam section, indicated at 99, is effective to space the brake a small distance from the periphery of the disk 82 and thereby prevent any braking action. In Figure 8, where the plate 88 is rotated in the clockwise direction to a greater degree, the cam section 99 engages brake 100 to space that brake a greater distance. On the other hand when plate 88 is rotated in the clockwise direction as seen in Figures 7, 8 and 9, to the position of Figure 9, the cam section 99 swings free of brake 100 and the latter is effective to oppose rotation of disk 82.

In addition to shifting disk 82 into an engaging position relative to enlarged portion 84 of shaft 68 plate 88 actuates wiper 108, Figure 2, to press medium 3 against head 42 when the medium 34 is travelling in the forward direction across head 42. This action may best be understood by reference to Figures 2 and 9. As will be evident from Figure 2, wiper 108 is supported on leaf spring Ht] which in turn is pivotally supported on pin 112 so that as pin 112 is rotated in the clockwise direction as seen in Figure 2, wiper 108 is swung into engage ment with head 42. Arm 114 is likewise connected to pin 112 and has on itsopposite end a downwardly extending pin 116 which may be seen projecting below panel 28 in Figure 9. An opening 118 is provided in panel 28 so as to permit movement of pin 116 to engage or disengage wiper 108. As will be evidentfroni Figure 9, plate- 88 is provided with an extending; arm 120' of length to engagepin 1'1'6 sothat' as plate 88 i'sshifted' about the axis of eccentric 86, pin 116 isengaged and wiper 108 swung into an engaging position to press medium: 34 against head 42.

Pin-122g Figurc' 9, acts'to engage'plate 88- to limit the counterclockwise movement thereof associated with the action of spring 94- and causes plate 88 to' assume the predetermined position shown in Figure 9* when wire-12'4" is not tensioned: I-n thisposition, disk- 821s swung out of engagement"- withenlarged portion 84 of shaft 68- and brake 180" is engaged to adegree sufiicie-nt to brakedevice 30! as necessary to maintain medium 34 taut as it is unwound from device 30, but insufiicient't'o break medium 34'.

Inadl'lition to the previ'ously d'escribed' functions; plate S'S' acts in conjunction with" arm 1 26; Figure 2, to prevent accidental erasure of medium 34 when playbacle or re'- wind operations are desired? To this end; arm 1 26 is; attached to member 12'8 whichinturn is-leyed to shaft 130': This construction willi be evident from Figures 2 and 9. Moreover, as will be seen in Figure 21 member" 128 has an extending arm portiomuponwhich permanent magnet'1 32'is mounted; This magnet acts: as: an erase magnetto: i'mpart'a predetermined" degree of magnetization: to medium 34 asit' passes thereover: and hence re--- movedundesired signals or noise previously impartedthereto. Moreover, memben128 has-- extending arm: 134 which islocated below panel ZB' asmay-ibe seen-in the view of Figure 9: Pin- 136 isdocatediat theiremote end of this arm=at a radius such-as:to be-engaged by the'projecting: lip portion 138 of plate 88;

When-arm 126 is :inthelisten -position shown-in Figures 2 and 9; erase magnet 132 is= swung t'o aspacedpositionrelative tomedium: 34: so: that no: magnetization is imparted to the medium by magneti 132 andfno erasure of the record. takes place. In: this condition, pin'136 is swung freefrom the'vprojecting'lip; 138 -01": plate 881 and: is not engaged thereby, event when plate 881is swung to the position shown: in: Figure 8- where it: has maximum movement" in: the; clockwise direction: as: seen. from: that figure.

When: arm: 126- is swung .tothe record positionas; shown in the, dotted lines of? Figures: 9.:and=:11:, mediumi 34 rides: on magnet 132: so: that a: uniform: degree of magnetization is imparted thereto as it passesv thereoven. Inthis: condition the switch 131: ofrFigurev 2B is. rotated so" astoiconnect the: electricalsystem so: as to: impart a. timevarying' current. to head 42 in: accord) with the: timevariationsxin an intelligence to: be recorded; Moreover; pin- 136i on arnr 1341(Figure' 9.): is swung to' a position, where. it; engages: the extendinglip 1 38? of platesv 88; Inasmuch. astplate; 8.8Ris inithe: positionzshownin Figure 9. when medium 34 is being: unwound; from: device 30,3110: interference between. arm 134: and plate 88' takes; place, and. itl'is possible to record; the?) intelligence desired.v

One. of; the features of our: invention resides: in: the fact'i that x the. arm: 126 is: automaticallyrretumed. to, the; listen position andLmagnet 132tspaced frompmediurn: 3,4- when the: movement, of medium 34 is, stopped. This; actiontakes place by reason of the engagement: between pin: 136Iand lip-i138. Thus; if-tplate 88;is;r,ot-ated in the-counter clockwise direction, as, seen: in; Figure 9 so as to stop;

the unit',,pin 13.6.v is-engagedby plate. 8-8 so as tozswing arm 126 to space erase magnet 132 relativetothe medium 3.4 and prevent that magnet. from affecting, the medium.

F igure: 2B isafragmentary cross;sectional View through the indicated cross section, of. Figure 2- and:showing the.

As will, be. evidentfrom this from Figure 9. The shaft is supported in switch 131" which is in turn supported from front panel. 22 153 bracket 129; The switch 131 is of conventional construetion and includes atleast" six poles capable of movingin accord with the motion of arm 26' from the position shown in the solid lines of Figure 12' to theposition shown in the dashed'lines thereof;

Device 32 is supported from panel 28 by shaft 148, Figure 4. Pulley 142 is supported on shaft and located below panel 28 so thatrotation imparted to pulley 142 causes'corresponding, rotation of device 32. Pulley 142 is rotated, in accord with the rotation of flywheel 76; Figure 5, by reason oflbelt144; Figure 6, which. rides on that pulley and on pulley 146 which is attached toshaft 78.

Inasmuch as pulley 142', Figure 6, is driven through pulley146, wheel 72, and shaft68, pulley I42Zrotatesvin the same direction as shaft 68. Moreover, it: will be evident that the direction of motion. imparted; to shaft 80 by section 84' of shaft 68 is opposite to the direction.

of rotation of shaft 68. Furthermore, flywheel 76'rotates in the same direction as shaft 68' by reason of the, action of wheel 72'. Thus, if shaft 68is rotated in the clockwise. direction as seen in Figured shaft 80 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction when disk 82 is engaged by enlarged" section 84 so as to tend to wind medium 34 upontdevice 302 Moreover, flywheel 76 andcapstan 40 are rotated inthe clockwise direction as seen in Figure 6 so that the velocity tended to be imparted to medium 34' by the action of. capstan 44} is in direction to transfer medium 34' from. device 30 to device 32. In addition,

pulley 142 and device 32'; are rotated in the clockwise, direction as seen in Figure 6' when belt. 1'44 is engaged so as to tendto wind medium 34upon device 32. Thus, one. direction ofrotation of shaft 68 oorrespondsto winding action on both device 30 and device 32. This windingactionnis controlled by selectively engaging, the drivein a manner to be described in further detail hereafter.

It is, the function of plate 148, Figure 6, to, tension,

pulley 144' inaccordwith the position of cam 150, Figure 6. Plate 148' is pivotally mounted about pin 152 and is disposed'below the surface of panel 28; S'pning 154,

acting, against pin 156m panel 28 and'pin 158 on platev 148; tends to rotate plate 148 in the counterclockwise, directionas seen in Figure 6', thereby swinging idler wheel 1602 into engagement with belt 144' and tensioning that belt" to achieve. more effective driving action on, pulley 142by reason'of'the rotation of belt 1'44. ltitli-is rotatably mountedabout'pin 162' to minimize the frictional drag on belt' 144 associated with the presence of the idler mechanism. I

Plate 148is'positioned in accord with the angular positionofcam by reason of the engagement'ofpin 164 with'therperipheral surface thereof. Spring 154 acts to swing'plate 148 so that pin 164; engages earn 151! and mm 150- is, provided with a varying radius about shaft 166 so that the tension' of belt 144 is altered in accord with the angular position of cam 150.

It'is' the function ofplate- 168 to act as a brake selectively to oppose rotation of device? 32. To this end, plate 168 is pivotally supported from panel28 bypin 170 and is provided with arm 172 having friction wiper 174 to engage edge1f76 of pulley 142 to retard shaft 140'. S ring 1'78; acting aginstpin 188 on panel? 28 and pin 182 on plate 168, tendsto swing plate 168m the counterclockwise direction about pin 17th as'seen in the View of Figure 6; thereby tending to cause engagementof friction wiper 174.

It is the function of cam 184-, to position plate 168 about pin 170 so" as selectively to cause engagement of the friction wiper 174. To this end; pin 186 is located on plate 168 and is disposed so as to engage the peripheral surface ofcam 184-. Spring 178 biases plate 168 in a counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 6' to cause engagement between pin 186and'cam 184. Thus as cam Idler wheel 184 is rotated and the radius between pin 186 and shaft 166 altered, plate 163 is swung about pin 17% so as to cause engagement and disengagement of the wiper 174 to increase or decrease the braking torque on shaft Mil.

It is the function of plate 188, Figure 7, to shift pinch wheel 2d4 and plate 88 in accord with the rotation of cam 15%. To this end, plate 1% is pivotally supported in spaced relationship with panel 28 by pin 1% and is biased in the counterclockwise direction about pin 190 by spring 192 which acts against pin 1594 on panel 28 and pin 196 on plate 133. Pin 1% is located to engage the peripheral surface of cam 350 so that spring 192 causes pin 196 to engage cam 25% and thereby causes plate 183 to rotate about pin 1% in accordance with the rotation of cam 15% about the axis of shaft 166.

Interconnection between plate 138 and plate 38 provided by flexible cord 124 which may, for example, be a wire. This cord is attached to plate 188 by pin 1% and to plate 88 by pin 264i. Adjustable stop M2 is provided to enable alteration of the length of wire 124 between pin 198 and pin 2% so that the interconnecting relation ship between plates 185i and 88 may be varied. inasmuch as spring 94 tends to swing plate S3 in the counterclockwise direction as seen in Figure 7, wire 124 is maintained in a taut condition and rotation of cam ll5t. causes rotation of plate $38 about the center of eccentric 36 so as to shift disk 32 from the position wherein brake MN is engaged (Figure 9), to a position where it is driven by enlarged portion of shaft 68 (Figure 8).

In addition to interconnecting plate 38 and cam 15% plate 188 acts to position pinch wheel 29% in accord with the direction of travel of medium 34 so tha the pinch wheel engages when medium 34 is desired to travel in the direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of capstan 4%. To this end, pinch wheel 234 is rotatably mounted on shaft 206 which extends through opening 283 of panel 2?; as will be evident from Figure 7. Opening 268 is shaped to permit movement of shaft 206 and plate 138 in accord with the movements of cam 15d.

It is the function of the wiper assembly 210, Figure 2, to press medium 34 against capstan 46 when medium 34 passes across capstan 4% in opposition to the rotation thereof. To this end, a friction wiper, such as a felt pad, 212, is mounted upon spring support 214 which is in turn rotatably supported from panel 23 by pin 216. The opposite end 213 of support 214 is turned about idler wheel 204 so that as idler wheel 204 is swung to a spaced relationship with medium 34 the wiper assembly 210 is rotated into position to press medium 34 against capstan 4i In accordance with the preferred embodiment of our invention, capstan 40 has a surface of soft material, such as lead alloy, so that as medium 34 is drawn across capstan 40 and pressed thercagainst by wiper 212 the surface of capstan 41B is polished to a uniform radius about the axis of rotation. This causes a uniform movement of medium 34 when velocity is imparted thereto by capstan 4d, thereby avoiding any tendency toward wow.

Operation.

The operation of the mechanical portions of our inventicn can best be understood by reference to the views of Figures 7, 8 and 9, taken in conjunction with the views of Figures 2, l0 and 11. These views show the operating mechanism in the various operating positions.

In the view of Figure 7, the unit is in the stop position where the stop marking on dial 220 is aligned with the reference mark 222 of panel 28 as will be evident from Figure 2. In this condition, the radius arm of 184 which bears against pin 186 of plate 168 is of small value so that the spring 178 swings plate 168 against edge T76 of pulley 142 to cause wiper 174 to oppose rotation of that disk and hence to oppose rotation of device 32. Furthermore, pin 164 of plate 148 rides on point of relatively great radius of cam 150 8 so that the biasing action of spring 154 is overcome and idler wheel 160 does not tension belt 144.

In the stop position of Figure 7, the cam section 99 of plate 88 acts to engage the brake 100 and swing that brake free of wheel 82. Thus disk 82 is free to rotate when the dial 22% is shifted from the rewind position to the stop position and there is no tendency for the device 30 to be stopped more rapidly than the medium 34 is released for Winding thereon. Should device 30 be braked before device 32 when the dial 220 is shifted from the rewind to the stop position the medium 34 would be speeled out as the latter device would unreel the medium when the rotation of the former is inadequate to take it up.

Cams 150 and 186 are retained in the stop position against the action of springs 1592, 94 and 154 by notch 197 of cam 150 in which pin 196 rests. This notch further indicates to the operator the fact that the stop position is reached. The spring 192, acting against the notch 197 causes cam 15% to lock in the stop position if knob 220 is rotated to a point very near that position and then released.

As will be evident from Figure 2, the pinch wheel 204 is swung to a disengaged position relative to capstan 40 when dial 220 is rotated to the stop position. This results from the fact that the pin 196, Figure 7, rides on a point on cam 15$ having a radius which restricts the rotation of plate 188 by spring 192 to an amount insufficient to cause engagement of pinch wheel 204 with capstan 40. Thus, the frictional engagement between iedium 34 and capstan 4G is only the frictional engagement associated with the presence of medium 34 thereon. This frictional engagement is inadequate to cause motion of medium 34 against the retarding action of the brake 174 which acts to oppose rotation of device 32 and to arrest motion of medium 34.

When the mechanism is in the stop position, of Figures 2 and 7, it is impossible to shift arm 126 from the listen position shown in Figure 2 to the record position shown in the dotted lines of Figure 11. This is due to the fact that rotation of arm 126 causes corresponding rotation of arm 134, Figure 7, which rotation swings pin 136 to engage the extending lip 138 of plate 88. This engagement prevents arm 126 from rotating sufficiently to swing erase magnet 132 into an engaging position with medium 34.

By the automatic action of plate 88 in preventing rotation of arm 126 to the record position, we avoid the possibility of accidentally erasing a recording. This results from the fact that at the end of any recording operation it is necessary to stop the mechanism, a movement that swings plate 88 to position of Figure 7 wherein arm 126 is swung to position magnet 132 to a spaced relationship relative to medium 34.

Figures 8 and 10 show the operating mechanism in the rewind position where medium 34 is wound from device 32 to device 30. In this condition, dial 22th is swung to the position wherein the rewind marking is opposite the reference mark 222, Figure 2. As will be evident from Figure 8, the pin 186 of plate 368 engages the extending portion 224 of cam 184, thereby preventing further rotation of dial 220 and gear 226. This advises the operator that the rewind position is reached and prevents turning dial 221 beyond the rewind position to the forward position.

In the rewind position, pin 186 rides on a portion of cam 184 having a relatively large radius so that the action of spring 1'73 is overcome and wiper 174 swings free of wheel 1.42. Furthermore, pin 164- of plate 148 rides on cam 15th at a point of relatively large radius so that idler wheel 16% swings free of belt 244 to cause that belt to ride loosely on pulley 142. Thus, there are neither braking nor driving torques exerted on shaft 140 and the medium 34 may be unwound therefrom without encountering opposition to rotation other than that associated: with the friction: inherent inthe structure. It is thus possible to transfer medium 34 at relatively great velocity without excessive tension: thereon.

From Figure 8 it will further be apparent that pin 196 of plate 83 rides. on: cam 15th at a point of relatively greater radius than the radius uponzwhich it ridesin the position; of Figure 7. Thus, cam E59 overcomes the'biasing action of spring I92 and cord. 124- is tensi'oned to swing plate 38v in the clockwise direction in. opposition to the biasing action. of spring Qt; As plate 83 is swung about the axis 228 of eccentric 86g the disk 82 is shifted away from brakehtitifandz against the=enlarged portion 84 of shaft 623-, as will be evident; from Figure 8.. Portion 84 of'shafit 68v accordingly drives disk 8% to. rotate device 39 in direction to wind mediumi thereon.

The rotation impartedtto: device 3ii isdue' to the driving engagement between disk 82v and the; enlarged portion Sd'of shaft; 68'. The relative diameters'of thesetdisksare chosen so as to: achieve the desired linear velocity" of medium 34* as it is transferred In the preferred embodiment of our inventionthese diameters-are chosen so that the rewind operation takes about one-tenth as long as the corresponding winding: operation, thereby minimizing the time lost during rewindi When the dial 226- is-positioned in the rewind-posi tion shown in Figure 8", the rotationofplate 188 about pin 190 is suflicient to swing idler-wheel 204 to" the remote position relative to capstan: 40ishow-n in"' Figures 8 and 1-0; In. this position, idler wheel" 2d'4bears against theentending'arm 21 8 of wiper, mechanism 210; thereby causing the; wiper pad toengage. medium 34ias: it passes over caps-ranted- Thus; asmediumfidiisdrawnzover Cap. stan dd in'opp'osition to; the rotation thereof, the; medium is: pressed against the soft surface of capstan: 40'; and operatestopolish that surfiacetoiaauniform radius.' This automatically'maintains capstan d-fliiHCOIIdiiiOl'! to impart a-uniform' linear velo-citiyito medium 34iduringsthe forward orwindoper-ation.

When plate 88 is moved fromthe forward position: of Figure 9 to: the stop position of: Figure. 7' and moved; further to the rewind position of Figure 8, thezpin 23ih swings about the centen of=eccentrii1 86 to engage the. extending arm 232" of sWitchaZM-i. This; disconnects"; wires 2% and 238;. Figure 3.; toiinsert? axresistance;inthexcircnit of the. amplifier S02E81 toreduce the volume of. soundto: a pleasing. level during thezrewind operation; Inasmuch: as: the: soundr produced; duringirewindi a; reverse intel ligence. and.'o no; value other'than to indicate reversed operation and the intensity of." this sound tends: to; be relatively' great: because of the:highvelo.city-ofthe-me dium over the head; this. feature. is of" substantial. importance in 1 providing: a: mechanism-oi: maximums usefulness in the.home.. The: operationt-of switch 23'4 -is described? in: further." detail hereafter: in: conjunction; with. the electrical. circuits employed in; our invention.-

When. dial 22d" is rotated: to; the: forward position wherein the forward mark thereon is opposite: reference mark. 222; Figure 2", the operativer'elementss of; thermochanism. are disposed? as? shown irr Figures 9: and- 11 This position is. necessarily reached from the. stop* position because dial: 220; Figurelyis :heldlagainst rotation: from the forward? position to the:re.wind' position without first going throughathe. stop position orfrorn'the; rewind? position: to. the: forward? position without going through the stop position; Thiszis. accomplished byextension 224,. Figure 9; of; camz which-engagesthe pin 186* of plate 168* to prevent such rotationt. This feature not only reducesathewearc'on the;equipmentincident' to the reversing: of direction of travelrofi. medium 54 and" minimizes the tendency-of theapparatus'to. tear or break: the tape. but also:- assures that erase.- magnet 132 is in a: spaced position relative tQ-medium 34. at all times other than! during-the recording operation That is, sincearm 126 is automatically swung, to. the position shown in Figure 2 when the dial 220 is turned to the 'stop position the action of" the operator necessarily swings the erase magnet 132 to a spaced position when the record operation. is stopped and the medium is rewound to the original spool. In the absence of this pro vision'oi our-:invention, it" would be possible, for'example, for an inexperienced operatorto leave the erase magnet 132 against medium 34 after making a recording and as a consequence; causing erasure of the medium during the resultant rewind operation.

Whenthe knob'220 is rotated to the forward position of Figure 9 the pirr186 rides on a relatively large radius of cam 184 so that plate 168 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction about pin'17ii and the friction surface 174 is: swung free'of'ed'ge 1T6 of puiley 142. Moreover, pin 164 rides on a -point' of relatively small radius of cam 1-50 so that plate 148 is swung by spring-1 54in-th'e counterclockwise direction about pin- 152'. This swings idler 160- against belt 144 so as totension that belt and cause a good frictiondriveb etween pulley 146; Figure 3; and pulley 142; thereby yieldably driving device 32 in the. wind direction.

In thefforward position pin 196 of'plate 18S rideson a point of small radius of cam 15 W so that spring 192 rotatesplate 183 in the. counterclockwise direction about pin 130 to-a relatively great degree. This swings pinch wheel 204 into engagementwith capstan 41? as shown in Figure 11 and at the same time releases wire 1 24 to permit spring 94 to swing plate 88 in the counterclockwise direction about eccentric 86'; The engagement between medium-.34 and capstan 40 d'ueto'the pressing action of pinch wheel' 2ii'4 'und'er the bias ofspring 192' causes a relativelypositivedriving-action between capstan 40 and medium Sd' so' that linear-velocity is imparted to medium 3'4 inaccord with the angular velocity of capstan 49': Inasmuch as capstan 4ti is' polislied toa uniform radius by rewindoperationsand rotates at a substantially constant angularvelocity'byreason of the action of flywheel 76 and motor 50; a uniform linear. velocity is imparted to medium 34 so as to produce a uniform correspondence between the space variations of magnetization along medium 34 and'thetime variations in the signal imparted toor taken fiomhead 42, Figure 2.

The 'rnedium 34' is maintained taut between capstan 40 and device 32 by reason of the fact that the angular velocity which tends tobe imparted todevice 32 by reason of' the action of belt 144 exceeds the angular velocity corresponding to the linear velocity imparted to medium 34 by capstan 40. Thus belt-14d slips and maintains medium 34- taut.

I'nthe forward'position of'Figure 9, plate 88 swings about; the center of eccentric 86 so as to cause disk 82' to engage the friction surface" W2 0i brake 1M). This brake opposes rotatibnof. disk 82 and rotation of device 30, thereby maintainin g medium-34-taut as itiswithdrawn from device-30 by the action of capstan 4i The-rotation of plate 88'- further causes wiper 108' to bear against medium 34 and press it against head 42. This results-from thetaction ofarm of plate $3 which swings against pin 116 to swing arm 114 in the clockwise direction about pin- 112 as seen in' Figure 11, thereby swinging arm 11010 a corresponding degree and causing the wiper pad 1% to bear against the head 42'.

In the forward position of Figure 9 the arm 126 is free to swing so as'to cause erase magnet 132 to bear against medium 34 and impart a uniform magnetization thereto during the recording operation. This uniform degree of magnetization is highly desirable in order that the intelligence corresponding to previous recordings on medium 3.4 or random noise imparted .to that medium by reason of the magnetic history of the materials thereof, do not come through. to distort the new recording. This motion of arm 126 is made possible by reason of the fact that whenplate 88 rotates to, the. position of Figure Q 1 l the lip 338 is rotated to a position where it does not engage pin 136 of arm 134.

The electrical circuits of the apparatus hereinbefore described form no part of the present invention but are described and claimed in our co-pending application, Serial No. 747,540, now Patent No. 2,639,333, previously referred to.

While we have shown a particular embodiment of our invention, it will, of course, be understood that we do not wish to be limited thereto, since many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a device to impart predetermined velocities to a lengthy medium, a capstan to engage said medium, mechanism to rotate said capstan, a drive selectably operable to impart velocity to said medium in opposition to the rotation of said capstan, a pinch wheel engageable with said medium and said capstan to increase the frictional engagement tberebetween, interconnecting elements between said pinch wheel and said drive so as to disengage said pinch wheel when said medium travels in opposition to the rotation of said capstan, and a movably mounted wiper having an arm overhanging the path of said pinch wheel so as to be moved against said medium to urge said medium against said capstan when said pinch Wheel is disengaged.

2. In a device to impart predetermined velocity to a lengthy medium, a capstan to engage said medium, mechanism to rotate said capstan, a pinch wheel, a pivotally mounted member to support said pinch wheel and shiftable to an operating position where said pinch wheel urges said medium against said capstan and a retracted position where said pinch wheel is spaced from said capstan.

a reversible drive for said medium having elements to shift said member and retract said pinch wheel when said drive is reversed, and a pivotally mounted wiper positioned to be engaged by said pinch wheel to urge said medium against said capstan when said pinch wheel is retracted.

3. In a reeling mechanism for controlling transfer of an elongated medium between a pair of reels, first and second rotatable supports for said reels; drive means; control means actuatable into first, second and stop positions; first clutch means actuated by said control means for coupling said drive means to said first reel support only in said first position of said control means; second clutch means actuated by said control means for coupling said drive means to said second reel support only in said second position of said control means; and brake means actuated by said control means for impeding rotation of only said first reel support on actuation of said control means from said second position to said stop position.

4. In a reeling mechanism for controlling transfer or" an elongated medium between a pair of reels, first and second rotatable supports for said reels; drive means; control means actuatable into first, second and stop positions; first clutch means actuated by said control means for coupling said drive means to said first reel support only in said first position of said control means; second clutch means actuated by said control means for coupling said drive means to said second reel support only in said second position of said control means; first brake means actuatable into an operative position for impeding rotation of said second reel support; second brake means actuatable into an operative position for impeding rotation of said first reel support; means actuated by said control means for actuating said first brake means into said operative position thereof on movement of said control means into said first position; means actuated by said control means for actuating said second brake means into said operative position thereof in said second position of said control means; and means actuated by said control means for holding said first brake means out of said operal2 tive position thereof and moving said second brake means into said operative position thereof on actuation of said control means from said second position to said stop position.

5. In a reeling mechanism or the like, a base plate, a shaft arranged to support a reel or the like on one side of said base plate for rotation about an axis normal to said base plate, a control plate on the opposite side of said base plate carrying said shaft and pivoted for movement between first and second control positions about an axis in spaced parallel relation to the axis of said shaft, a drive wheel rotatable on an axis in spaced parallel relation to said axes, and means on said shaft for engaging said drive wheel in said first position of said control plate.

6. In a reeling mechanism or the like, a base plate, a shaft arranged to support a reel or the like on one side of said base plate for rotation about an axis normal to said base plate, a control plate on the opposite side of said base plate carrying said shaft and pivoted for movement between first and second control positions about an axis in spaced parallel relation to the axis of said shaft, a drive wheel rotatable on an axis in spaced parallel relation to said axes, means on said shaft for engaging said drive Wheel in said first position of said control plate, brake means supported on said base plate, and means on said shaft for engaging said brake means in said second posi tion of said control plate.

7. In a reeling mechanism or the like, a base plate, a rotatable element arranged to support a reel or the like on one side of said base plate for rotation about an axis normal to said base plate, a first wheel on the opposite side of said base plate coupled to said element, a second wheel on said opposite side of said base plate journaled for rotation about an axis normal thereto, means for driving said second wheel, clutch means between said first and second wheels, a control plate in spaced parallel relation to said other side of said base plate, means on said control plate for operating said clutch means, and means supporting said control plate for pivotal shiftable movement about an axis normal to said base plate for operation of said clutch means.

8. In a reeling mechanism or the like, a base plate, a rotatable element arranged to support a reel or the like on one side of said base plate for rotation about an axis normal to said base plate, a first wheel on the opposite side of said base plate coupled to said element, a second wheel on said opposite side of said base plate journaled for rotation about an axis normal thereto, means for driving said second Wheel, clutch means between said first and second wheels, a control plate in spaced parallel relation to said other side of said base plate, means on said control plate for operating said clutch means, means supporting said control plate for pivotal shiftable movement about an axis normal to said base plate for operation of said clutch means, and a cam plate in spaced parallel relation to said other side of said base plate and arranged to actuate said control plate.

9. In a reeling mechanism or the like, a base plate, a rotatable element arranged to support a reel or the like on one side of said base plate for rotation about an axis normal to said base plate, a first pulley on the opposite side of said base plate coupled to said element, a second pulley on said opposite side of said base plate, means for driving said second pulley. a belt between said first and second pulleys, a control plate in closely spaced parallel relation to said other side of said base plate, a wheel journaled on said control plate in alignment with said belt between said pulleys, and means supporting said control plate for shiftable movement in a plane parallel to said base plate between an inoperative position and an operative position in which said wheel engages and tensions said belt to drivingly couple said first pulley to said second pulley.

10. In a reeling mechanism or the like. a base plate, a rotatable element arranged to support a reel or the like on one side of said base plate for rotation about an axis normal to said base plate, a first pulley on the opposite side of said base plate coupled to said element, a second pulley on said opposite side of said base plate, means for driving said second pulley, a belt between said first and second pulleys, a control plate in closely spaced parallel relation to said other side of said base plate, a wheel journaled on said control plate in alignment with said belt between said pulleys, means supporting said control plate for shiftable movement in a plane parallel to said base plate between an inoperative position and an operative position in which said wheel engages and tensions said belt to drivingly couple said first pulley to said second pulley, and a cam plate in spaced parallel relation to said other side of said base plate arranged to actuate said control plate.

11. In a reeling mechanism or the like, a base plate, a rotatable element arranged to support a reel or the like on one side of said base plate for rotation about an axis normal thereto, a wheel on the opposite side of said base plate coupled to said element, a control plate in spaced parallel relation to said other side of said base plate and pivoted about an axis normal to said base plate, an integral flange on said control plate of arcuate configuration complementary to the periphery of said wheel, a friction pad on said flange, and means for shifting said control plate to engage said pad with the periphery of said wheel. 12. In a reeling mechanism or the like, a base plate, a rotatable element arranged to support a reel or the like on one side of said base plate for rotation about an axis normal thereto, a first wheel on the opposite side of said base plate coupled to said element, a second wheel on the opposite side of said base plate journaled for rotation about an axis normal thereto, means for driving said second wheel, clutch means between said first and second wheels, a first control plate in spaced parallel relation to said other side of said base plate, means on said first control plate for operating said clutch means, means supporting said control plate for pivotal shiftable movement about an axis parallel to said base plate for operating said clutch means, a second control plate in spaced parallel relation to said other side of said base plate and pivoted about an axis norma'l thereto, an integral flange on said second control plate of arcuate configuration complementary to the periphery of said first wheel, a friction pad on said flange, and means for shifting said second control plate to engage said pad with the periphery of said first wheel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,467,507 Stone Apr. 19, 1949 2,500,903 Nefi Mar. 14, 1950 2,504,587 Rey Apr. 18, 1950 2,539,858 Oifutt Ian. 30, 1951 2,624,574 Camras Jan. 6, 1953 

